The Hunger Games has been proven to test everyone's virtue, not just the young and unfortunate kids plucked from their districts and thrown into the arena. Venus Hummingstill has never cracked under pressure. Regardless of everything being stripped...
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Venus never thought she would feel relief in a moment like this.
The first bomb threw Venus off of her feet. The grumble of the Arena was disorienting and jarring as the first bomb, which came from the main gate, set off a chain reaction around the Arena. Her head was pounding, her neck thrown back in an unnatural way when she hit the concrete. Venus's survival instincts sent adrenaline through her body even though she was tired of fighting for her life. She was able to get on her knees and attempt to crawl around for some sort of cover.
Through the smoke and fog she could make out two distinct figures, the flash of a rainbow dress signaling her that Lucy Gray was alive. Venus dragged herself through the rubble of the on-going bombs, trying to call out for help when she inhaled the fumes of war. She clung to the rumbling ground, Coriolanus's scrunched up face coming into view. He was battling his own traumas from the war and Venus could see it was killing him inside. She reached for him, even with Coryo unable to see her, until she could finally pat his shoulder.
He flinched upon the impact. The sight of Venus bringing him a sliver of peace during his own personal tragedies.
She was able to get her footing, rising along with Coriolanus and Lucy Gray as they examined what was happening around them. Venus held her head, the warm rush of something trickling down her neck. She pulled her fingers away to find blood settling underneath her nails. It was dark maroon, nearly black, and as much as she wanted to scream...nothing came out. All she could think about was dying. She had been surrounded by death for the last few days, especially Arachne's traumatizing demise last night, and she was exhausted.
The sky continued to fall. The bombs crumbled the structure of the dome ceiling, glass and concrete barreling down towards the trio. A hand grabbed Venus's, jerking her body towards what they deemed as safety. The girl snapped out of her delirium, feeling Lucy Gray grip her palm with the strength of a grown man.
She was the only one thinking clearly.
A chunk of the ceiling snapped from its fixture and flew down between the girls. Venus snatched her arm away, allowing Lucy Gray to continue on without her, and tripped on sharp pieces of the ground jutting up. The back of her leg stung, it had been cut deeply with remnants of her blood on the rock. Venus's back landed on piles of rubble and intricate tile pieces. She couldn't move, the adrenaline running its course as she felt her body begin to shut down.
She couldn't fathom a simple thought, the sound of the explosions fading away with the ringing. She could smell the blood, it was pungent and very reminiscent of the night before as she guided Arachne into eternal slumber. She had no choice but to look up at the ceiling, the heat from the Summer sun peaking in as it mixed with the fires dancing around her.
Venus was allowing herself to let go. With cloudy thoughts and limited hearing she knew that this was her bitter end. At the hands of bombs instead of Dr. Gaul, she felt a bit of relief. She wouldn't have to participate in the Games. She wouldn't have to be subjected to such horror.
